Absorbent paper dispensing



June 11, 1935. v. lvooRl-nls 2,004,143

ABSORBENT PAPER DIsPENsING Filed July 30, 1932 INVENTOR UNITED STATES PATENT novel product adapted thereto. One of the ob- OFFICE AnsoaBaN'r PAPER msransmo Vanderveen' Voorhees, Hammond, Ind.

Application July 30. 1932, Serial No. 826,792

'i Claims.

This invention relates to a method of making and dispensing absorbent paper tissues and a jects of the invention is to provide a more convenient and economical method of dispensing sheets of absorbent paper.

A more specific object is to provide a method of preparing and packing absorbent paper towels which will allow them to be withdrawn from the container-dispenser with wet hands without tearing the towel or jamming the container.

Further, objects of the invention will appear as the description thereof proceeds.

It is common practice to pack paper towels in a dispensing container in such a manner that the edge of the towel on the bottom of the pile extends from the dispenser where it may be seized with the hand and withdrawn.

The towels are arranged in the pile with edges folded to engage each other so that on removal of each towel, the edge of the next towel is made to extend from the dispenser, providing a suitable grip. In the past, dilculty has been encountered with this method of dispensing paper towels for `the reason that the extending edge has frequently torn off when seized and pulled with the wet hands.

As a consequence, all means of withdrawing the towel from the dispenser are lost to the user and the towel service is rendered totally inoperative. And when the user does succeed in removing the towel from the dispenser,"he frequently distorts it so that the edge of the succeeding towel fails to protrude properly to furnish a grip for continuing the removal of the remaining towels in sequence.

All these dimculties I have overcome by the following novel and effective process which forms the subject matter of my invention.

improved paper towel.

Referring to Figure 1l of the drawing, I represents a dispensing cabinet provided with a slot at the bottom for removal of towels, The cabinet is preferably of a metal construction, and will not be described in detail as its design forms no part of the present invention.

The edge of the towel 2, extending from the cabinet is provided with a water resistant section which is represented by the spot I.

This

section is also shown in Figure 2. It may conveniently be formed by applying a suitable sizing material to the towel at the desired area which is preferably located in the central portion of that edge of each towel which provides the grip for 5 withdrawing the towel from the cabinet. 'I'he sizing may be any suitable water-repelling substance, but I prefer to use a solution of rubber in an organic solvent `or a rubber latex. I may also use a drying oil such as linseed or tung oil,

or a solution of rosin or rosin soap or melted wax. Solutions of cellulose or cellulose esters may also be used. The size may suitably be applied by a printing or stamping process before or after the towels are cut from a continuous sheet in the 13 process of manufacture. Also a pigment or dye may be incorporated with the size to locate and identify the treated area.

Any suitable location and shape of the water resistant area may be employed. For example, it may be a triangle in the middle portion of the extended edge or the entire edge may be treated. In general, the sizing should be applied to an area suiilciently large to form a suitable grip for the hand, and it should extend suiil- 26 ciently into the body of the towel to transmit the tensile stress thereto and distribute it over an area of sufficient magnitude to avoid tearing.

In order to avoid scratching of the skin by my improved grip towels, I prefer to use the soft 30 sizing materials such as rubber.

Figure 3 shows a modified design of towel l wherein a tab 5 is provided on the leading edge of the towel to furnish a more adequate grip. This tab is suitably sized to confer sufficient wet strength upon it to prevent tearing when seized and pulled with wet hands. The tab may be cut from the towel next in the series as is indicated by the cut out portion. 6.

Altho I have described my invention by means of a specific embodiment thereof, it should be understood that it is applicable to all situations where absorbent paper is subject to stresses ap-A plied by wet hands. The scope of tne invention is intended to be defined by the following claims.

I claim:

1. An absorbent paper towel which has been treated in a restricted area with a water resistant size to provide a grip which will retain its tensile strength when seized with wet hands.

2. The lproduct of claim 1 wherein the water resistant size is applied to the edge of the towel.

3. The product of claim 1 wherein the water resistant size is applied to a restricted area in the center of the edge of the towel. 5

2 i 2,0m, 14a

4. An absorbent paper towel providedl with. -6. I'he product of elaiml wherein thesaid waweter resistant area o! sumcient dimensions to ter resistantsizeisa dryingoil. aiford a grip'tor the hand. the'boundary ot said 7. The product of claim 1 wherein the said wa.- area. being visibly apparent to the eye. ter resistant size is a wax. 5 5. The product of claim 1 wherein the said wa.-

ter resistant size is a. rubber latex'. VANDERVEER VOORHEES. 

